Story By: Lisa-Maria Goertz, Sub-Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Newsflash
A French Radio station accidentally killed off the Queen and a whole host of other famous people when they published dozens of pre-written obituaries for living people.
According to national newspaper Ouest France, national radio station, RFI (Radio France International) published the obituaries on Monday, shortly after which they issued a public apology, saying the mistake was due to a “technical problem.”
This technical error saw the obituaries of many well-known media personalities such as footballer Pele, Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, former US President Jimmy Carter, Cuban leader Raul Castro and actors and actresses like Clint Eastwood, Sophia Loren, Brigitte Bardot and Jean-Paul Belmondo.
The French businessman Bernard Tapie was also in the list, and according to Ouest France this is the third time he has been announced dead whilst still alive, after national newspaper Le Monde published his obituary a little over a year ago, and TV channel L’Equipe had also accidentally announced his death in August.
There was also a special obituary for Queen Elizabeth II of England twice with the second version to be used in the case that she died of COVID-19.
RFI posted on their Twitter account saying: “A technical problem has resulted in the publication of numerous obituaries on our site. We have mobilised to rectify this major bug and we apologise to the people concerned as well as to you who follow us and trust us.”
According to digital news outlet Emedia, the pre-writing of obituaries is quite common in the world of media.
Journalist presenter at national newspaper France 24 and co-presenter of Paris Direct, Pauline Paccard said: “All the editorial staff have their obituaries more or less prepared in advance, and that is obviously not to harm the living, but to be ready just in case. ”
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